Been lurking a while to get my bearings, but finally have some questions that I don't think are redundant. I have a PhD in Neuroscience/Pharmacology from a top 20 medical center and have been doing postdoc science research at a top Ivy for 5 years. I want to transition into biotech ER, and have been working on building up my financial modeling and valuation skills using the Wall Street Prep courses.
As I don't have any formal training in finance and am completely self-taught, which are the banks whose biotech teams prefer PhDs that need help with the finance/accounting at first? Put another way, which ER shops prefer a CFA/MBA that learns the science side on their own versus ER shops that prefer people who know the science and might be lacking on some financial particulars. My experiences with informational interviews have made it clear there are a few banks that like to hire people like me, but others won't touch me with a 10 foot pole. Thoughts?
Just to clarify, I meant specifically for biotech research teams. Thanks.
I can't really comment on banks but have you looked at biotech VC's? I only know a few people in that specific field, and tangentially at that so I'm not an expert by any means, but VC's in general don't need quite as an intense finance background and more of an understanding of the tech behind it, and in the biotech field that means the science, especially because it's not as much determining the market size, distribution, etc, but more like will this drug ever work? Can you read and understand the fda reports and trials with a deep understanding of the science? That may be a way to go. Biotech VC's also have always written big checks because it's not cheap to develop a drug and it would be helpful to have a network in academics because a lot of the drugs can start in academia or the scientist developing them come out of it.
I've also known people with a science background go into MBB consulting, learn the business side of things and move over to investment jobs but I don't know if you'd be getting a little on the old side if you have phd + 5 years to then spend enough time in consulting to learn enough to make the transition to finance without being 40 at that point (and you may like consulting by then). Good friend of mine was on a phd track, got his masters in Chem, went to McKinsey for 4-5 yrs and was recruited as an analyst at a health science focused hedge fund and absolutely rocked it there but he started at McK at around 25/26.
Im not in either of those fields but know people and have friends who have so take this with a grain of salt.
Thanks for the advice, I will check out the VC market as well. You're spot on about not wanting to get into consulting as I'm around 10 years older than your friend was, not looking for a weekly travel type of job. As far as banks, I know places like Cowen and Leerink have sizeable healthcare research teams that tend to look for people like me as associates, but does anybody know of any others I should check out (or avoid)?
DingDong is spot on about biotech VC. Wanna know why this whole scandal of Theranos (http://www.propublica.org/podcast/item/how-a-reporter-pierced-the-hype-…) there is a huge due diligence anyone investing in biotech or medtech is wanting to go through and they want to do it in-house instead of rely on outside verification.
Once bitten, twice shy.
It is very difficult to get into biotech VC. I am pretty sure a lot harder than biotech ER. And it seems that getting into biotech ER is pretty difficult these days as well. Have an ivy league PhD in biomedical engineering with lots of biology and pre clinical work. Almost got something a year ago, but had one issue in the interview process and that was it. Just took the CFA level I in December and hoping that will help. I think there are a lot of places that like to see the CFA level I, not necessarily for the finance you learn but just that they don't want someone who just finished their PhD, doesn't know what to do and then just applies for jobs in ER cause they have nothing better to do. I was asked about the CFA during interview process and I told them that I had thought about it, but just didn't have the time while finishing the PhD. The guy was impressed that I knew what it was and told me that thinking about it was enough. Cant put thinking about it on your resume though.
Thanks for the heads up about VC. True that you can't put thinking about it on the resume, but can say planning to take it this year in the cover letter. All I can do is keep pushing, best of luck to you.
My suggestion would be to take a certificate course in finance/account; go for your CFA (if you're okay with slugging it out a few more years as a Post-Doc); or doing a 1-yr MSF degree while doing your Post-Doc. (aka a part-time education). I think those options should open the doors for you a lot more, but just remember, there is no easy way into the industry. I'd say 80% is how much you want the job and 20% is how much you really know. While I do not have a PhD, I did come from a bio background/went into academic research for a few years and never laid my eyes on any econ/finance/accounting book during those years, and yet, here I am. Just keep pushing through it man, Rome wasn't built in one day.
FYI, I covered medtech for a while and now moved onto pharma. It could also be a wise decision to leverage your PhD in other life science sectors (i.e., medtech; tools/diagnostics; pharma) vs just focusing on biotech. There's alot of interest for individuals with healthcare backgrounds (that also have finance/business bkgrounds) and so I think that could be an alternative way into the industry too, while also getting into a sector that could possibly be interesting to you.
Already pushing through the WallStreetPrep Certification course, should finish in a week or two. Unfortunately, the post-doc just finished, so pursuing a MSF on the side will no longer work; not too keen on adding more student loans as well.
Not trying to stay focused on just biotech per se, but figured it would rude to contact multiple analysts in different divisions at a single shop. I have a friend who interviewed for a specialty pharma position and got hammered for not being able to convey a passion for why he was looking at that specific sector.
I had a phone interview where I was advised that making my own model and initiation report would be a great way to grab attention and prove how serious I am about making the switch. Seems like a reasonable way to follow up my certification, I just have to move fast!
Obvious question but needs to be asked: What about talking to the school you work with about an MBA? Keep working part time doing the research and get your business degree? Maybe you get a discount as an employee? Obviously working right away would be nice but that is the approach I would take if you're looking to get into investments versus working in pharma. Ivy MBA is the golden ticket.
I've followed the markets and invested for years, but unfortunately I didn't learn that with my background I could even consider a career switch into ER until the last year of my post-doc, at which point it was too late to make this move. Still paying off other student loans, so not working while taking on more debt isn't an option at this point, though I'd love to get the Ivy MBA. Best I can do is the certification then CFA route.
I've seen plenty of banks who favor PHD highly and actually prefer it since you understand the actual product. Maybe do an MSF or something to supplement and you are gold.
Thanks for the advice. With everyone saying CFA/MBA/MSF, each of which I don't have the time to wait for nor the money to pay for, does anybody consider the WallStreetPrep certification worth anything? That is, will any analyst/MD give it a second thought?
I went that route because I can complete that on a much faster time scale than the others, and I've already paid for it so I'm going to finish it. However, though it was a great tool to learn how to do the job properly, it would be good to know if it is worthless as a resume tool.
Spoken with several senior analysts, consensus opinion seems to be that I am doing everything right but most shops are waiting to hire until the financial and biotech sectors both rebound. One analyst suggested just creating my own model and initiation report and sending it to the analysts that cover the stock I pick. Anybody ever try this or receive one? Sounds like solid advice, but does it impress or get met with eyerolls?
Most biotech sell-side groups prefer PhDs to MBAs. I'm surprised you're having tough time breaking into ER, last I heard there were several openings. Perhaps it's due to the market instability.
Don't do useless certificates like WallStreetPrep. Focus on talking to as many sell-side analysts as you can.
Also, virtually zero chance to break into biotech VC without consulting/banking experience. I wouldn't bother trying.
Thanks for responding. I wouldn't say I'm having a hard time breaking in, I'm just early in the process. Only been cold-emailing analysts for ~6 weeks now. Did manage 2 interviews already, 1 of which went really well but the search was suspended due to market conditions.
As far as PhD vs. MBA, what I have found so far is that some banks definitely prefer the PhD, but I have found some places where the entire team is pure finance background and they only look for experienced ER that are "interested in learning about healthcare." All I was looking for in the OP was for a list of places that are pro-PhD, so that if I have missed some I could increase my targeted networking, though I won't complain about all of the great advice I'm getting here!
Thanks for the heads up on the certification. The sections on modeling, DCF, and comps were very helpful to learn the ropes, but if I can focus on building my own model and report rather than finishing the LBO and M&A sections I would focus all of my efforts on the model and contacting analysts.
you say you don't have time for the CFA. sign up for and take the Level 1. You will be done with it in June. It does suck though. You can still keep trying between now and then and as you said mention the CFA in the cover letter. successful start up experience is the best thing to have for VC from what I hear. Getting into ER is difficult. I consider my resume pretty damn good and all I have gotten is that one series of interviews in which things went south and one other company had me answer some questions via email then heard nothing more. All I have done though is apply to postings online. None of the cold calling or any of that.
Whoops, didn't mean to say I didn't have time for the CFA, planning on taking it in June. What I meant was I am actively hunting for a job right now, but I can't wait until after the June exam to find a job. If I need to find something else to pay the bills for the next 6 months, so be it, I would just rather not wait that long to move into ER.
When pondering a career change, and the light bulb goes on for your dream career, you want to start that as soon as possible! I'll do whatever I need to do to get into ER. If I have to be patient while banging away on the networking and passing level 1, so be it. I know I can do this, and kick ass at it, I just need a foot in the door :)
Evercore Citi Guggenheim Leerink
Note: These are all for NYC
Biotech Equity Research - Science Background vs. Finance Background (Originally Posted: 12/12/2017)
Hey everyone - I am currently a senior studying finance and will be working within ER when I graduate. My coverage group has yet to be defined, and will be finalized closer to my start date.
Based on my experiences (interned within ER covering biotech) and the self-study I have done, I am extremely interested in biotech and am considering it as my coverage group when I begin work. However, when I look at high-level ER Analysts covering biotech, I notice they tend to have backgrounds related to science/biotech (work experience/PhD/MD). I imagine this is because they are better able to determine the viability of new drugs compared to those who have backgrounds in finance/business, and they are able to value drugs/companies better because of this.
Do you think it makes sense to cover biotech, knowing that my background may be an issue down the road? Do you think my background will actually be a problem, or am I overthinking things? While the obvious course of action is to follow what I am interested in, as this will cause me to work hard enough that I learn what I need to know and my background is irrelevant, I was wondering what your thoughts are regarding this.
Hey NotThatCreative, I'm the WSO Monkey Bot...do any of these help:
If we're lucky, maybe these professional users will respond: Harshith joey joe joe shabadoo John-Wong123
I hope those threads give you a bit more insight.
Sadly they do not help
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